African Greys are (in my experience) the most frequently used birds for scammers. They are very popular, and many people know that they are "quieter" than most birds. You will not find a breeder selling these for under 3k-5k, in my personal experience. Owners found in classifieds may be a different story.
Hoobly is a site I will often use for when I am searching for a pet. There are still scams, but Hoobly at least takes the time to notify users who have reached out to confirmed scammers on their site, unlike craigslist.
I would suggest, instead of looking for a bird, looking for a breeder, as this is a more surefire way to avoid scams. There are often species-dedicated websites that will list reputable breeders by state, usually providing a website/email and listing whether or not they ship.
You can also search for rescues in your area—this is highly recommended since rescues will have concrete evidence they are not a scam, such as a brick and mortar building, a website, email, phone number, etc. There are MANY birds that need homes, so if possible, adoption is always suggested! There are many pros and cons to adopting, the biggest con can be not knowing the bird's history, and potential behavior issues that some may not be adept at handling. However, in my experience, rescues are VERY picky about where their birds go, and will do their best to match a bird to you, vs. having you pick a bird that may be too much for you (I say "you" in general, not you specifically)
If you want to know some breeds that are easier to find, both in rescues and from breeders/owners, I would say: budgies, love birds, Green Cheek Conures, Sun Conures, Cockatiels, Bourke's parakeets. These are all relatively small birds that tend to be easy to find.
Bigger birds that are easier to find would be Macaws (although these guys tend to be pretty expensive, breeder/owner alike, and are probably still pretty often used as "bait" for scammers), Cockatoos (these guys often come with behavioral issues, which is why their owner is surrendering them, but they are arguably the most rewarding birds of all), and Eclectus* (I don't see these guys being rehomed very often, but breeders will often have them) Keep in mind that these larger birds require a lot more care than the smaller birds listed above. They need much bigger cages (much more expensive), and oftentimes are much more socially dependent on you as their caretaker to give them the social enrichment they need. (All birds need social enrichment, but larger birds tend to be a lot more dependent, although this isn't true for every species, nor every individual.
Finally, a tip for avoiding scams before even reaching out to them: Oftentimes, the posts will be very vague. They may use the pronoun "they" intermixed with "he" or "she", while speaking about a single bird. They will also not really specify any defining details of the bird, and rather give very vague characteristics. "He is very tame, never screams, and loves to play." Owners will often try to outline some info, positive AND negative/neutral about the bird, because despite rehoming them, they still often want what is best for them lest they repeatedly be rehomed. Quite frequently the photos used are very generic (stolen most times), and will be of two completely different birds of the same species. It can be hard to appreciate this if you are not familiar with the species, but the background of photos can give clues (multiple photos of the same setting, or photos of the bird in seemingly different rooms/cages?)
There are some bird-specific websites that still have scams, albeit less often than sites like craigslist and the like.
Again, I highly recommend searching for rescues in your area, as they are going to be your greatest resource and will never leave you in the dark if you have questions about your bird. They truly want what is best for the bird, and while finding a forever home is important, the bird's welfare takes priority.
Thank you for your service, and congratulations on your search for a new bird! Patience is key with this, as you will have this animal for a VERY long time. Take your time to find the right bird for YOU, and make sure you have all of the appropriate equipment for their care before purchasing/adopting. Keep us updated on your search!
